History: 1940 to 1949

1940

The Los Angeles County Fair Corporation was reorganized as the Los Angeles County Fair Association. The agreement between the corporation, City of Pomona and County of Los Angeles was made at the suggestion of the federal Works Progress Administration so that there would be no question regarding the Fair’s operating on a strictly non-profit basis. The county Board of Supervisors turned over operation to the Fair Association and assigned a member to the Association. All excess revenues were established to go toward maintenance and new development.

1941

The Association transferred 46 acres of land and buildings to the County of Los Angeles. On Oct. 3, only three days after the close of the Fair, the huge agricultural building was gutted by fire. On Dec. 14, just a week after Pearl Harbor, three U.S. Army regiments occupied the grounds as first units arriving for war duty.

1942

World War II brought a halt to the Fair for six years and the grounds played an important part in the war effort as they were taken over by the U.S. Army. The grounds were converted into a motor base in January, and headquarters were established in the home arts building. A community of 5,428 Japanese-Americans were housed in 420 pre-fabricated temporary buildings from May 5-Aug. 24 before being relocated to other parts of the country. Pomona Ordnance Motor base was established in August. Forty acres was sold to the U.S. government.

1943

The army used the grounds as a desert training center.

1944

The Ordnance Command shop was established on the grounds.

1945

The grounds were used as a German and Italian prisoner of war camp.

1946

The prisoner of war camp was closed in March.

1947

Thirty-five acres were annexed for the establishment of a trailer park on the grounds.

1948

The Fair Association and County of Los Angeles signed a 49-year lease on June 8 for the Association’s long-term use of the land and buildings. The association deeded 72 acres to the county as part of the agreement…Thummer the Pig was introduced as the Fair's official mascot...The Fair reopened after the war with a $2 million construction and reconditioning program. The $750,000 reconstructed agricultural pavilion (today known as Fairplex 4), designed by Peter Ficker, replaced the burned structure. Measuring 800’ x 149’, it was the largest structure of its kind west of the Mississippi…Other new construction projects included a horse racing tote board, a tunnel under the track to the infield and new cattle and swine barns. Attendance topped the one million mark for the first time with 1,254,503 visitors, making the event the second largest fair in the United States, surpassed only by the Texas State Fair. Proving to be the start of a trend, L.A. County Fair attendance has topped the one million plateau in all but one year since 1948.

1949

A new county highway known as Ganesha Boulevard was constructed through what was then known as the San Jose Hills. The six-lane road ran from the grounds to the east slope of Kellogg Hill. It is now known as Fairplex Drive and links Fairplex to the San Bernardino Freeway. The Fair Association purchased 62 acres for parking lots, extending the total property to more than 400 acres, including 225 acres for parking. More than 8,200 square feet of space was added to the administration building, including a board of directors’ room with an outdoor balcony.